CHAPTER 2: Cream Puff

I've got it! Why didn't I think of it before?

I remembered a time when King Dedede had overheard a conversation between two Cappies. I wasn't there, but the king thought it was me he heard saying that he was a mean old grouch. As much as I agree with that statement, it wasn't me who said it. I tried to explain but he wouldn't listen. So guess what. I got another whack with the mallet.

Anyway, here's my plan. I fake a conversation between me and Escargoon where the king is sure to hear. This will require me to do an accurate impression of the sneaky snail. As they say, easier said than done. I could already do a good impression of Kirby, so I didn't think it would take long to learn Escargoon. I stood in front of my mirror, put on a grouchy face and began.

"What do you brats think you're doing?" I had heard him yelling this at Tiff and Tuff the other day, but I didn't sound anything like him. I cleared my throat and tried again. "This isn't a playground, you know!" Yes, I was getting better. I continued practicing for a few hours(I had nothing better to do) until at long last, I could do it.

"How dare you accuse me of such a thing!"

I sounded almost exactly like Escargoon. I decided to say something completely random that he would never say, just for fun.

"I love sparkly rainbow unicorns!"

It sounded so strange I couldn't help but laugh. I couldn't wait to put my plan into action.

-x-

After dinner, King Dedede went to watch television in his throne room. Escargoon went out to Cappy Town. Now was my chance!

I crept to the door of the throne room, where I heard the television blaring. I would have to speak loudly.

"Hi, Escargoon!" I said in my own voice. Then, in Escargoon's voice, I said: "Good evening, Erika."

Back to my voice. "Dinner was delicious tonight, wasn't it?"

I tried not to giggle as I said Escargoon's next part. "His Majesty ate so much. It's no wonder he's got such a big stomach."

I heard the television become quieter. Yes! The king was listening!

"Escargoon! How could you say such a thing about King Dedede!"

"But it's true. I think the reason he has to waddle isn't just because he's a penguin."

I heard footsteps from inside the throne room, stomping closer and closer. Eek! The king was coming! I made a dash for it, disappearing around a corner just as the throne room door opened. That was close.

"Escargoon!" King Dedede yelled. He sounded FURIOUS. I wandered innocently back around the corner and approached the king, who was carrying his mallet.

"Is something wrong, Sire?"

"You know what's wrong! I heard you talking to Escargoon just now!"

"Oh, yes. He ran away when he heard you coming. I tried to catch him but he was too fast." (Yeah, right.) "He said such horrible, untrue things about you, Your Highness."

"Which way did he go?"

"He headed for Cappy Town."

King Dedede raced away. I burst out laughing as soon as he was out of earshot. That was priceless!

-x-

Dedede had returned with a smug expression, so I knew he had found Escargoon. I waited outside the castle for the snail to show his ugly face. He didn't come back until very late, when everyone in the castle had gone to bed, even the king. Escargoon looked pretty miserable.

"Oh boo hoo, did the king yell at you?" I teased, mimicking what he had said to me yesterday.

He perked up instantly upon spotting me. "I haven't seen His Majesty since dinner." I frowned. He laughed. Then he went back inside the castle looking as smug as the king did.

That little liar! I should have rushed out to find him in Cappy Town as soon as the king returned. Then I would have caught him just after it happened, like he found me yesterday. It wasn't fair! How was I going to come up with another revenge plan now?

I sat down on the grass and thought hard. King Dedede always wants revenge on Kirby. What does he do?

Easy. He orders a monster.

That's it! I'll order a monster.

I knew it was stricly forbidden to enter the king's throne room without permission but I didn't care. I rushed inside, pressed a button on the arm of his throne and a giant screen emerged from the wall. The NME salesman flashed up on the screen.

"I wanna get a monster!" I yelled, stamping my foot.

"You must be Erika," said the salesman. "You look a bit young to be handling monsters. Come back with King Dedede or Escargoon and then we can talk." He went to turn the screen off.

"No, wait! I'm not too young!" I insisted. "And I can't get the king or Escargoon either."

"Of course, I expect they'll be fast asleep. You'd better wait 'till morning."

"That's not what I meant." I thought as hard as I could to come up with a good excuse. "I want to surprise them with a big strong monster. Strong enough to get rid of Es- er, Kirby. Something cute but deadly. I don't want to be seen with something too scary."

"You're in luck, Erika. A monster called Cream Puff arrived just this morning. It's not big and it's not scary, but its powerful bite can be lethal."

"Great! Send it!" I looked at the buttons on Dedede's throne. "Er, which one brings up the monster downloading thingy?"

"Left arm, bottom right button."

"Thanks."

I pressed the button and the gigantic monster delivery system rose from the middle of the room. After some sparks, smoke, and blinding light, a small fluffy ball with cute little eyes appeared. It wasn't much bigger than my head.

"What does it do?" I asked.

"Whatever you tell it to do," said the salesman. "Cream Puff is the most loyal and obedient monster you could wish for, providing you're an experienced monster handler."

"Experienced? Oh, how hard could it be?" I grinned. "Cream Puff, do a barrel roll!"

Cream Puff did a barrel roll.

"See what I mean?" said the salesman.

"Yeah, this is perfect! Thanks!" I pressed another button on the king's throne, switching the screen off and returning everything to normal. I looked at Cream Puff.

"Bite my scarf," I ordered, holding out one of the ends of my scarf to Cream Puff. "I wanna see just how bad your bite is.

Cream Puff bared its fangs and perforated my scarf with a snap of its jaw. I gasped. I didn't expect its bite to be THAT bad. I gave my little monster a pat on the h ead, grinning again.

Boy, are you going to get it, Escargoon! Mark my words, I WILL have my revenge!